Apparatus for bending plate-glass.



No. 673,6!5. Patented May 7, IBM.

T. W. CONNINGTON.

APPARATUS FOR BENDI NG PLATE GLASS.

(Application filed Aug. 28, 1900.)

(No Hudel.)

"ved or convexed shape.

The invention still further consists in the 1 UNITED STATES PATENTTHOMAS WILLIAM CONNINGTON, OF PARNASSUS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO CALVIN RARIE, OF SAME PLACE. V

APPARATUS FOR BEN DING PLATE-GLASS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Application filed August 28, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILLIAM Con- NINGTON, a subject of the Queenof Great Britain, residing at Parnassus, in the county of lVestmorelandand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Bending Plate- Glass; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification;

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inapparatus for bending glass.

The invention has for its object the provision of novel means wherebythe present and well-known apparatus of producing glass of thischaracter is entirely dispensed with, thereby greatly reducing the costof manufacturing and producing an article that will be equal in qualityto glass of this character now manufactured.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel means of placing and retaining a glass plate within the furnace,subjecting the same to the desired egree of heat, and then forming itinto a connovel means of red ncing the above-described class ofplate-glass,as will be hereinafter more fully described, andspecifically pointed out in the claim.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,and Whereinlike numerals of reference indicate corre spondin g parts throughout theseveral views, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the furnace, showingthe same opened and as the plate of glass appears before the same isheated. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form offormingplate.

In the drawings the reference-nnmeral 1 indicates a furnace providedwith the front opening 2, which opening is walled or closed when thefurnace is in operation. This open- Patent N0. 673,615, dated May 7,1901.

fierial No. 28,317. (No model.)

ing 2 leads into the retort 3, forming the central inner chamber of thefurnace, the furnace being further provided with combustion-chambers 4 4at each side of the retort, said combustion-chambers containing theordinary grate bars 5, communicating with openings 6, which openings areclosed by means of doors 7, suspended by chains or cords 8, passing overpulleys 9, and balanced by a counterweight. (Not shown in the drawings.)

The reference-numeral 10 indicates fines communicating with thecombustion-chambers 4, said flnes being provided with snitable dampers11.

The reference-numeral 12 indicates a series of flues communicating withthe retort 3. These fines also are provided with suitable dampers 13.

The reference-numeral 15 indicates brackets rigidly suspended, thesebrackets carrying pulleys 16, over which operate chains 17, provided atone end with a counterbalanceweight 18 and at their other end with hooks19, adapted to engage and suspend the glass 20, said chains 17 passingthrough suitable openings through the upper wall of the furnace.Directly below said plate 20, as shown in the drawings, is arranged aforming-plate 8o 21. The latter may be rigidly or removably secured tothe base 22, arranged in the furnace.

The operation of my improved furnace for producing convex plates ofglass is as follows:

The glass is placed upon the convex-forming plate, as shown in Fig. 1,and held in proper position by means of hooks 19 of the chains 17. Theopening 2 is then walled or closed, the dampers l1 closed, and thedampers 13 o opened, thus allowing the heat from the combustion-chambersto enter the retort and escape through the series of flues 12. Thefurnace is then fired until the proper degree of heat is obtained, whichwill allow the plate 5 of glass to bend upon the convex surface, and asthe same becomes heated the ends will tend to bend downwardly, whichwill operate the chains and the counterbalanced weight. This operationmay be observed through snit- 10o able openings in the furnace, as arein common use. When the glass is properly shaped,

as heretofore described, the dampers 13 are closed and the dampers 11opened, thus allowing the heat from the combustion-chambers to escapewithout entering the retort 3, and the wall is then removed from theopening 2, and the finished article may then be taken out of thefurnace.

It will be seen that various shapes of forming-plates may be used, suchas illustrated in Fig. 3, or other designs may be employed.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described myinventicn, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

as the plate of glass bends when sufficiently heated, thecounterbalanced edges thereof gradually lower on the former, as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS WILLIAM CON N INGTON Vitnesses:

LoUIs MoEsER, M. E. HARRISON.

